Hey Gang, Lots of learning going on these days for sure. I felt compelled to share something that I thought could bring a lot of value to what you may be doing this week. Chances are, if you are reading this blog, you are interested in success in one form or another. I’d like to think that if you are here, you are hella smart, too. You know that ideas of success differ greatly so relax with this definition for a moment. Success: “The progressive realization of a worthwhile goal.” Or how about this: “Going from failure to failure with great enthusiasm.” What ever you identify with, listen to this and you will walk away with a nugget that can, I believe, create a breakthrough for you with what you are pushing forward this week and if you make it a habit it can be the dawn of a new era of success in your life. This will be short and sweet. You came here for truth, not pleasure reading.
Service. Serve people. Give people what they need and more and push all thoughts of reciprocity out of your mind. Go above and beyond for people with a smile on your face and and real love in your heart. If you do that, before long, people will be coming your way and helping you because you are a server. Two, quick examples ’cause you don’t believe me yet. Picture yourself in these situations so you can get the point and adopt it in your daily routine. Because these people did something, I will be their live-long customers and even send them people.
First example. Cambridge Hardware in Cameron Park. If you don’t live in California, move here for this hardware store or just commute here for duct tape if you already live on the west coast.
John, the owner said, “oh yeah, your lawnmower doesn’t work? Bring it in and I’ll show you how to fix it.” Poor, John, when I brought it in he found that it was a total piece of junk with three wheels already rolling towards the landfill. He stripped the thing down, cleaned it up, changed numerous parts and helped me to understand the way it was totally jacked up. Rather than go home, he ate his lunch standing up and even sharpened the blade. He wouldn’t charge me for labor, only the parts he changed. John is a total nice guy and never says, “no.” His “can-do” attitude is the reason why my grass is now shorter than my fence and the property values in my neighborhood are on the rise. He would not rest till his client was happy. He never hinted that I was an imposition at all. He understands service and now has a life-long customer.
Around the corner, Cafe’ Santoro makes a mean cappuccino. They also have wi-fi and serve ice cream. So what. Big deal. I will drink espresso there and take clients there forever because of Ken Santoro. He understands service. One Sunday morning, we were going to stop in. They had just opened recently. It was dumping rain like a deluge from a fire hose. The wipers were on high and they still weren’t wiping fast enough. Trees were waving violently in the wind. The gusts were moving in waves, visible on the saturated black-top. We pulled in the parking lot and hesitated before parking. We were going to get wet and were having second thoughts about getting out of the car.
“Hey! Thanks for comin!” Ken could be heard, excited, through the window and over the pelting. He was getting soaked as he ran out to meet us. He motioned for us to open the window.
“Are you freakin nuts? What the hell do you want?” my thoughts almost materialized in foolish talk. I rolled it down a crack.
“Here, take these! Come back in for mochas on the house after the storm breaks.” He gave us two coupons for free coffees in a freaking tornado.
Would any of these occurrences happen at a Starbucks or Home Depot? If they would, I would go there. Because I met people who have servants’ hearts at these places, you know where I am spending my money. Forever.
I honestly don’t think that these guys only act this way with clients with money. When you are in the company of people like this, you know that this is who they are and how they treat the people in their company. True servant’s hearts.
So here is your challenge: (Yes, you have homework and we want to hear back in your comments; )
Who is it that you can do a better job of serving? You can have a more pleasant posture with them with a bigger smile in your tone and have more patience. Who is it? What can you be doing for them? Go do it today. Don’t even think of what is in it for you. Serve your people. Do it tomorrow, too. Make it a habit. You will be going from failure to failure with great enthusiasm and progressively realizing a worthwhile goal and be richly blessed.
A nice message no matter who you’re talking to. I was actually thinking along these lines this week (Isn’t that Ammmazing?). I am already a servant. I serve two demanding little girls 24 hours a day. But the truth is that sometimes I don’t serve them with gratitude. As weird as that sounds, I think we’re supposed to have gratitude for our responsibilities. Often, I begrudge them – especially the third wake up call at 3am. But on the off days that I do approach them with enthusiasm and gratitude it totally changes my day. It affects them, it affects me, it affects our day.
I also think it’s easier to do this when you love what you do. John probably loves tinkering with machines and maybe Ken’s finally taking on the dream of owning his own business and loving it. So on and so forth, etc. etc. etc. Great topic.
WOW!!! Patrick… I’m humbled by your words. You inspire me to keep on keepin’ on. At times one begins to get lost but your words helped to energize me to refocus on what’s THE most important thing in my business (and business everywhere)and that is serving. Thank you. Ken